Liquid cooler and dispenser



y 1954 D. ARENZ ET AL LIQUID COOLER AND DISPENSER 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Oct. 24, 1950 Drmald' Aranz lii ymundL A dulf,

ATTORNEY y 1954 D. ARENZ ET AL 2,677,254

LIQUID COOLER AND DISPENSER Filed Oct. 24, 1950 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTIORS q Donald Ar'ErLz IiaymumiL-Adm1f,

I ATTORNEY y 4 1954 D. ARENZ ETAL 2,677,254

LIQUID COOLER AND DISPENSER Filed on. 24, 1950 s Sheets-Sheet 5 ATTORNEY Patented May 4, 1954 NlTrED LIQUID COOLER AND DISPENSER DonaldArenz," Rochester, Minn., and Raymond L. Adolf, Prophetstown, Ill.

ApplicationiOctob'er 24, 1950, Serial No. 191,796

1 Claim.

The invention relates to anapparatus for cooling liquids and more especially to-a mechanically refrigerated cooleri The primary object'ofthe invention is the provision of an apparatus of this character, wherein beverages, particularly root beer or other liquids, either carbonated or uncarbonated, will pass through a condenser, the latterinvolving a I plurality of cylinders which through tubes connected in series forces the cold-condensed liquid from the bottom ofa preceding cylinderto the top of a following cylinder and'so on forcing from the bottom to the top of the subsequent cylinders until the liquid is in a cooled state, free from unabsorbed carbon dioxide-gas.

Another object of-the invention is the'provision of an apparatus of this character, wherein the condenser-has the ability to reduce a foamy frothy mixture to a liquid state in a short period of time and in a relatively small space.

- further object-of the-invention isthe provision of an apparatus of this character, wherein the method of refrigeration, which is a flooded type expansion coil surrounding the condenser cylinders and transfers heat'thr'ough a conduct ing medium of either a solid orsemi-solid sub stance, and in this manner the system is free of a sweet water or brine medium of heat transfer, thus being a dry'type system.-

A still further object of the invention is the provision of an apparatus 'ofthis character, wh rein the casing'having within the condenser and refrigerated coil may be'mad'e from any high specific heat and low K factOrmateriahsuch as gypsum cast to forma case or a suitable metal container to hold a molten material such as ten asphalt or the like which is pouredaround the condenser and refrigeration coilwithinthe container, these materials oncoolingbecome congealed intoa solidmass forming an insulation barrier between the refrigerated coils and the outside media but having the inherent char.- acteristics of high specific. heatormass effect which acts to stabilize or hold at an even tem perature the liquid being cooled.

A still further object'of the: invention is the provision of an apparatus. of this character, wherein a thermal well imbedded in the conductive mastic between the refrigerated coils and condenser tubes will function so that the cutout temperature is affected by. the refrigerant temperature and cut-in temperature is affected is simple in construction,thoroughly reliable and efficient in operation, automaticin the -working. thereof, strong, durable, effecting a maximum of refrigeration and cooled liquid capacity in a minimum of space, it being compact, neatinappearance, and inexpensive to manufacture and install. 7

With these and other objects in view the invention consists in the features of construction, combination and arrangement of parts as will be hereinafter more fully described, illustratedin the accompanying drawings, which disciosethe preferred embodiment ofthe invention, as departures may be made therefrom as properly fall within the scope of the claim hereunto appended.

In the accompanying drawings:

Figure 1 is a side elevation of the apparatus constructed in accordancewith the invention.

Figure 2 is a top plan viewshowing. the grouped liquid condensers and refrigeration coils within by a slight rise in temperature: of the liquid being 7 cooled, thus accurately controlling the temperature of the cooled" liquid within-the predetermined close limits of the thermostat whose sensitive element is inserted in the said well, this thermostat! location being for further assuring a consistent temperature irrespective of--.flow' or time elapse between liquid draws-e V A further object of the invention is the provision of an apparatus of this character, which a container, which latter is shown in section.

Figure 3 is a side elevation showingfragmentarily the compressor and electric power unit of the refrigeration system for the apparatus.

Figure 4 is a sectional view taken on the line fll of Figure 2 looking in the direction of the arrows.

Figure 5 is a sectional view taken on the line 5-5 of Figure 2 looking in the direction of the arrows.

Figure 6 is a sectional view taken on the line of Figure 2 looking in the direction of the arrows.

Figure '7 is a sectional view taken on the line 'i-'i of Figure 2 looking in the direction of the arrows.

Similar reference characters indicate corresponding parts throughout the several views in the drawings.

In order to understand the characteristics of the cooler constituting the present invention, which is primarily designed for cooling root beer it is necessary to set forth the condition of the root beer as it reaches the said cooler, namely, in order to obtain a uniform solution'of root beer, it is mixed in predetermined proportions in an open vessel or by any other means, such as proportioning valves. Once having the solution of root beer as above stated, it is drawn into a paddie type carbonator where the root beer solution is carbonated by agitation in a carbon dioxide atmosphere. The root beer after carbonation is a frothy, foamy mixture, relatively warm; Now, the purpose of the present invention is to convert the frothy m'mtureas it leaves the carbonator into a cold liquid, clear and relativelyfree of excessive entrained unabsorbed CO2 gas, andyet-during the process of condensing and cooling permits a uni finished drink.

Referring to the. drawings in detail, A designates.

generally the liquid cooler constituting the present invention, which comprises a cabinet I 0, preferably of the design illustrated in Figure 1, and constructed from sheet metal, although it may be made from any other suitable material or materials, having at its upper front area a drip or waste-trap or the like II, the latter confronting a superposed dispensing faucet I 2 of any approved type.

Interiorly of the cabinet I8 is arranged a casing 12, it being made from any high specific heat and low K factor material, such for example, as gypsum cast to form the casing or a suitable metal container to hold a molten material, such as tar, asphalt and the like, a identified at l3. Within this casing I2 is grouped a series of cylinders M- which constitutes a condenser which has the ability of reducing a foamy frothy mixture to a liquid state in a short period of time and in a relatively small space as compared for example i. e. to attempting the same result by means of a continuous refrigerated tube which intensively would have to be of a great length.

These cylinders I4, each is capped both at the top and bottom, as at l5, and the series of said cylinders being interconnected by the inlet and outlet tubes 16 and 11, respectively, so that said cylinders are successively filled through the tops by the inlet tubes 16 and successively emptied by the tubes H. In other words the cylinders are interconnected in series with the inlet tube 16 emptying into the first cylinder, from here the solution is forced by C02 pressure from the bottom of the first cylinder to the top of the following cylinder and so in like manner each cylinder is filled at the top andemptied from the bottom through all into the final cylinder, then the solution is forced by pressure from the bottom of the final cylinder which is the outlet of the condenser. The condenser is circuited as heretofore stated to form a trap at the top of each cylinder i l when the foamy mixture remains above the solid mix ture. The liquid is forced from the bottom of the last cylinder and so on until it reaches the final cylinder where the root beer is now becoming liquid. The trap is formed in the top of each cylinder [4 where the unabsorbed CO2 collects as the root beer remain in the cold surroundings it is reabsorbed into the solution. A purge valve, not shown, has connection at 58 with the last cylinder I l of the circuit to purge ofi any excessive CO2 that is not reabsorbed into the solution.

The solution is piped in its foamy condition in the carbonator, not shown, which receives its supply from any suitable source, the inlet for the piping being indicated at E9, communicating through the top of the first cylinder [4 of the series thereof constituting the condenser, while tioned is mounted within the cabinet ID below the condenser and the heat exchange and is of sufficient capacity to assure an outlet temperature of not over 37 when the inlet temperature is not over 55.

Within the casing I 2 a conductive mastic is placed between the copper coils 2| and the cylinders [4, as a means of quick heat transfer, this mastic being heretofore identified at [3, and fills completely the said casing covering said coils and condenser, together with all existing voids, excepting for connections. This fill strata of hydrolene, asphalt or tar having a high specific heat lends hold over of cold to the condenser and at the same time being an insulator holds the cold in the condenser. The mastic cools congealing into a solid mass, forming an insulator barrier between the refrigerated coils and the outside media, but having inherent characteristics of high specific heat or mass efiect which acts to stabilize or hold at an even temperature the liquid being cooled.

Embedded in the conductive mastic between the refrigeration coils and the condenser is a thermal well, denoted generally at B, details not shown, of any approved type, electrically relayed to the electric circuit to the power unit 23, so that the cut-out temperature is affected by the refrigerant temperature and the cut-in temperature is affected by a slight rise in the temperature of the liquid being cooled, which accurately controls the temperature of the cooled outlet 29 from the last cylinder M of the condenser has connection with a heat exchange, not shown, of any approved type, used for further cooling and retarding the flow of root beer where it flows finally from the faucet 12, which has suitable connection with the heat exchange before mentioned.

Surrounding the condenser involving the cylinliquid within the pre-determined close limits or the thermostat, not shown, whose sensitive element is inserted in the well before mentioned. This above named location of the thermostat further assures a consistent temperature irrespective of flow or time elapsed between liquid draws at the faucet 12 of the apparatus A.

The entire apparatus is self contained and compactly arranged so that a minimum of floor space is required and the construction is such that the drain is conveniently located for receiving all splash, and without extending beyond the lower section of the cabinet which is of the minimum size practicable to accommodate the mechanism of the apparatus, as will be clearly apparent in Figure 1 of the drawings.

What is claimed is:

An apparatus of the kind described, comprising: an enclosure, a container within the enclosure, a series of cylinders intercommunicating with each other within the container forming closed condensers, means interconnecting r the cylinders with each other for successively ad- References Cited; in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 2,071,133 Martin Feb. 16, 1937 2,091,074 Hudson Aug. 24, 1937 2,500,684

Johnson Mar. 14, 1950 

